Club members Helen Nodrum and Glenda Stahel attended the Interact club at McKinnnon Secondary on Monday this week 28th April, 2025.The interact club at McKinnon Secondary College was first formed in 2017, through the efforts of the then chair of Youth Services, Mr. Peter Guttman.
Over the years at odd intervals our club as the sponsor club have endeavoured to support the interact activities, but it did become “ad hoc”.
The purpose of this meeting was to reinvigorate and reestablish a working connection between the Interact club and Rotary club of Bentleigh Moorabbin Central.
Glenda Stahel and I, as members of the Youth and Vocational Committee attended McKinnon Secondary School for a presentation and discussion with the President of Interact, Past President and two of the teachers on how our Club can become more involved with the 154 Interact members of McKinnon SC.
They were extremely well prepared with a slide show presentation and copy of their end of year report for 2024.
The level of organisational structure, clear thinking, planning and commitment amongst the students was infectious and the two teachers present validated that this Interact is student lead and they just facilitate processes as required at the school.
At present there are approximately 3,000 students over two campuses. The membership of the Interact club is 70 students from McKinnon campus and 40 from eastern campus ( Yr. 8 & 9). The club is always working to attract new members.
Since its inception in 2017 interact has raised $30,000 with monies going to charities of the student’s choice.
The club’s KPI’s are four in value
- Decrease the administrative cost of running the club
- Prepare members for Job readiness
- Promote Sustainability
- Maintain Community Involvement
Club members can download their report here.
HOW CAN OUR ROTARY CLUB ASSIST MCKINNON SECONDARY INTERACT CLUB
- Sponsorship for their projects on request
- Provide connection – Rotary members to assist in fund raising and projects
- Suggestions – from our membership, as to what else they could be doing
- Provide speakers for their education sessions they organise
e.g. job interviews
resume building
Rotaract membership once left school
Immediate recommentions to Rotary committee:
To assist these amazing young adults we strongly recommend that this rotary club
- To R.Y.L.A. on a YEARLY BASIS the president of the club.
And that a members (any member) attend at least one day of the RYLA program
- ASSIST the club with their INTERACT SEMINARS by providing speakers within the program, either from RCBMC or the wider district membership.
- Make sure that we meet with the club committee at Interact at least twice a year. – program those meetings in well beforehand.